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MDA-MB-231 is an epithelial-like breast cancer cell line originating from pleural effusions of a Caucasian breast cancer patient. It exhibits aneuploidy with a near-triploid range of chromosome counts (modal number = 64, range = 52 to 68). This cell line lacks normal chromosomes N8 and N15 and contains eleven stable rearranged marker chromosomes, along with unassignable chromosomes. Trisomy is observed in most autosomes. The MDA-MB-231 cells appear spindle-shaped, elongated, and thin when reaching subconfluence, while some cells retain a rounded morphology in culture.
Why choose MDA-MB-231 from AcceGen?
Choosing MDA-MB-231 from AcceGen offers several advantages. The cell line is characterized by high viability. It is incubated under optimal and sterile conditions by professional operators, ensuring its optimal growth and performance. Moreover, AcceGen implements rigorous quality control measures, guaranteeing the reliability and consistency of the MDA-MB-231 cell line for research and experimental purposes.
| Product Code | MDA_MB_231; MDA-MB 231; MDA.MB.231; MDA MB 231; MDA MB231; MDA Mb231; MDA-MB231; MDAMB-231; MDAMB231; MDA-231; MDA-231P; MDA231; MDA231-BRE; MB231; MD Anderson-Metastatic Breast-231 |
| Species | Human |
| Cat.No | ABC-TC0651 |
| Product Category | Tumor Cell Lines |
| Size/Quantity | 1 vial |
| Cell Type | Epithelial |
| Shipping Info | Dry Ice |
| Growth Conditions | 37 ℃ |
| Source Organ | Breast |
| Disease | Breast Cancer |
| Biosafety Level | 1 |
| Storage | Liquid Nitrogen |
| Product Type | Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines |
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FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY
The MDA-MB-231 cell line has several valuable applications in cancer research. It can be used to establish a xenograft model, forming poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in ALS-treated BALB/c mice or nude mice. This cell line is particularly useful for studying cancer metastasis and investigating the impact of potential inhibitors on human breast cancer cells. Additionally, researchers can explore its efficacy in inducing apoptosis and evaluate its anticancer activities. The versatility of MDA-MB-231 makes it an important tool for advancing our understanding of breast cancer and developing therapeutic strategies.
MDA-MB-231 cells were originally isolated from the pleural effusion of a patient with metastatic breast adenocarcinoma.
The doubling time of MDA-MB-231 cells is approximately 31 hours, though this can vary depending on culture conditions.
1. Culture Medium
Base Medium: Use Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) or RPMI-1640. Both media are commonly used for MDA-MB-231 cells.
Serum: Supplement the medium with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Ensure the FBS is heat-inactivated to remove complement proteins that could affect cell growth.
Antibiotics: Add 1% Penicillin-Streptomycin to prevent bacterial contamination.
2. Culture Conditions
Temperature: Maintain the cells at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2.
pH: Ensure the pH of the culture medium is around 7.2-7.4, as this is optimal for MDA-MB-231 cell growth.
Osmolality: Keep the osmolality of the culture medium between 280-320 mOsm/kg.
3. Seeding Density
Initial Seeding: Seed cells at a density of 2.5-5 × 10^4 cells/cm². Adjust density depending on the growth rate and the specific needs of your experiments.
Subculturing: When cells reach 70-80% confluence, they should be subcultured to prevent overgrowth and maintain healthy proliferation.
4. Subculturing Protocol
Remove Old Medium: Aspirate the old culture medium carefully.
Rinse with PBS: Wash the cells with PBS without calcium and magnesium to remove residual serum that can inhibit trypsin activity.
Trypsinization: Add enough trypsin-EDTA solution (0.25%) to cover the cell monolayer and incubate for 2-5 minutes at 37°C until the cells detach.
Neutralize Trypsin: Add complete medium (with FBS) to neutralize the trypsin and collect the cells.
Centrifuge: Spin down the cells at 200×g for 5 minutes.
Resuspend and Seed: Resuspend the cell pellet in fresh medium and seed into new flasks at the appropriate density.
5. Monitoring and Maintenance
Medium Changes: Replace the culture medium every 2-3 days to ensure cells have adequate nutrients and to remove waste products.
Morphology Check: Regularly observe cells under a microscope to check for healthy morphology and detect any signs of contamination or differentiation.
Cell Counting: Periodically count the cells using a hemocytometer or an automated cell counter to monitor growth rates and adjust seeding densities as needed.
6. Supplementation (if needed)
Growth Factors: In specific experiments, adding growth factors like Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) or Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) can stimulate proliferation and signal transduction studies. Typically, 10-20ng/mL for EGF and 10-50ng/mL for IGF-1.
Glutamine: Ensure the medium is supplemented with L-glutamine (2mM) as it is essential for cell growth and viability.
7. Special Considerations
Thawing and Cryopreservation: Thaw cells quickly in a 37°C water bath and handle them gently. For freezing, use a cryoprotectant solution such as 90% FBS and 10% DMSO, and freeze cells slowly using a controlled-rate freezing container.
Authentication: Regularly authenticate cell lines using STR profiling to ensure the identity of the cells and check for mycoplasma contamination.
